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WHY I WOULD NOT VOTE FOR BRO. EDDIE VILLANUEVA

A lot of friends and brethren from different congregations have asked me on who would I vote for the upcoming presidential elections. As an evangelical Christian, the expectation is usually that I would endorse Bro. Eddie Villanueva, the former Head Pastor of the Jesus is Lord International Ministries, who recently resigned from the pastorate because of his aspirations to become the President of the Philippines.

And my answer is: I would not vote for Eddie Villanueva. I am against his campaign for presidency not because of any personal reasons but because of concerns for the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, for the sake of biblical pastoral ministry, and for the testimony of Evangelical Christians, especially Bro. Eddie Villanueva himself.

Why so? Here are my reasons – reasons I found that not a few evangelicals have also expressed concern with:

Due to his political meddling, Bro. Eddie Villanueva has lied in the past about Jesus Christ.

As one of the most prominent Christian leaders campaigning for Jose De Venecia during the 1998 Presidential Elections, Bro. Eddie Villanueva rallied about Jesus Declaring Victory in JDV. Grand rallies were organized which made public declarations of this, to the point that De Venecia was anointed, laid hands on, even publicly by Eddie Villanueva as the one declared by Jesus Christ.

It was a prophecy they told us and Jesus declared it. By what happened, it turned out to be nothing more than a disillusioned imagination by Christian leaders and ‘prophets’ who claimed to have heard the voice of Jesus Christ. We ask, if they can lie[i] about what Jesus says, what else would they spare lying against?[ii] Would we expect that someone would respect the real sense of the Constitution of the Philippines, to be a true advocate and defender of it, when the more serious word of Jesus Christ, he has proven to distort, just because of an intense desire for Philippine progress?[iii]

Our challenge to Bro. Eddie Villanueva: Admit that the declaration that Jesus Declared Victory in JDV in the past was a lie that they perpetrated due to their disillusionment. Admit that they have put words into the mouth of the Lord Jesus Christ that He really did not declare.

Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation – this is the gospel, and it is not for sale.

That Jesus Christ is the only name where any man or woman can be saved[iv], is the most important message of the Christian. This is especially true to the Muslim and the Catholic who insists that works are necessary for the salvation of man. Man is saved thru grace by faith alone in Jesus Christ not by works[v]. And being the most important message of the Christian, it is but ironic that Bro. Eddie Villanueva has seemed to have forgotten this by not speaking about this among his Catholic constituents.[vi] In one episode of GMA-7’s Bio-Data, Eddie Villanueva openly declared he was a good Catholic. Why say that? When so many Catholics have not been even introduced to this basic difference which divides the true teaching of salvation between the false, it is but callous to the cause of Christ to be ambivalent about this crucial matter.[vii]

We ask Bro. Eddie Villanueva, should we not love Catholics and Muslims by telling them the truth that good works does not save? And should we not tell Muslims that Jesus Christ is God and that He is the only way by which any man, or any Muslim would be saved, not through Allah?[viii]

What is more important to talk about to a Muslim? The problems and solutions to the country’s problems, or even his economic problems, or his dire spiritual need? Can Bro. Eddie Villanueva confront the error of Islamic Theology and declare it publicly when the divine name of the Lord Jesus Christ is being blasphemed in Islamic circles when he sits in Malacanang Palace? Is the country’s unity more important than the sword of truth[ix] of Jesus Christ?[x]

Our challenge to Bro. Eddie Villanueva, Christian evangelist and former Head Pastor of the Jesus Is Lord Church: Preach to the whole country, to Catholics, to Muslims, to Iglesia Ni Cristo (Manalo)s, to Ang Dating Daan members, that Jesus is the only way for which any man would be saved and not through works and that any God other than the Trinitarian God is a false god. Jesus alone saves. Jesus is Lord!

Our challenge to Bro. Eddie Villanueva: Declare that Jesus is Lord! Not only as a chant but preach its true definition in the face of works-righteousness religions, in Unitarian faiths that deny the deity of Christ, and preach the truth that Jesus’ name is the only name for which men would be saved.

We appeal to the church to go back the truth that preaching of the message of the Gospel is the method God has chosen for the salvation of nations[xi], and not the political office, and that the pastorate is the highest calling a man can be called rather than the presidency of any nation.

Our challenge to Bro. Eddie Villanueva: Go back preaching the gospel, for it is the power of God for the salvation of Jews, Greeks,[xii] and Filipinos. Salvation is the transcendent treasure that every man should be encouraged to receive. We can even say that in the worse situation, let men be poor and yet be saved rather than rich and yet be condemned to an eternal punishment by those who reject Christ.

By seeking a political office, unbelieving observers would be confused about the real agenda of the Christian faith. That Jesus Christ, God Himself, died in a shameful cross for the sins of those who would trust Him with their lives is the only thing Christians should be known for.[xiii] And that the ultimate treasure is garnered by a man who has received Christ whether he live or die in a democratic egalitarian state or even in an oppressive communist country. This is more important than a Christian’s family, his property, his job, his GNP, and yes, even his own country.[xiv] True that Christians should be known for kindness, responsibility, honesty, and service etc; but these virtues do not happen in a vacuum. They are seen in a Christian because of Christ. To be known because of the fruits of the life that Christ has made possible at the expense of not exalting Christ and His message, is nothing more than earthly approval-seeking.

Moreover, those who support the candidacy of Bro. Eddie Villanueva are demeaning the calling of the pastoral ministry. They are indirectly saying that serving urgencies of the present age should take precedence over prayer and the word of God[xv], things that a Christian preacher should be preoccupied teaching in season and out of season.[xvi]

If the Apostle Peter belonged to a country where there came a crisis for fish, and a number of individuals wanted to be fishermen, we should not encourage Peter if he said, “There is a crisis for fishermen, I would just like to be a fisher of fish rather than a fisher of men.” We would not say, “Go on. You’re a Christian, we need fish anyway, we’ll support you.”

Let others who can fish do the task, since they are so desperate to do it anyway. We need more fishers of men, rather than the earthly fish. The pastorate is a higher calling than the presidency of any nation because the task is the Great Commission that the Lord Jesus Christ entrusted Christians.[xvii]

The only genuine way to change a nation is to change the hearts of the men and women of that nation. And the only real way to change the hearts of men and women is through the great gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. If Bro. Eddie Villanueva does not believe this, it is time for Christians to seriously reconsider any endorsement of him in any leadership position. If he believes this, then why sacrifice his opportunity to preach this precious single hope of every human being on the planet? Every Christian who names the name of Christ should proclaim this gospel – including Bro. Eddie Villanueva even if he wins the Presidency. If Bro. Eddie Villanueva and his supporters believe this, why aspire a position where the preaching of this same gospel would be hampered because of Constitutional delineation between the Church and State? He would have to ‘mellow down’ his gospel preaching because he has to show Constitutional integrity.[xviii]

As a brother, we sincerely want Bro. Eddie to be guarded against compromise that would surely affect his Christian testimony.

Going into a godless world without God’s Word – living it, defending it, standing for it, no matter if Catholics, Muslims, Iglesia Ni Cristo (Manalo)’s would be offended – is fighting a losing battle. A battle such as that without God’s word can only be won or survived by compromise. We appeal to the evangelical community for genuine love for Bro. Eddie Villanueva that they spare him from an office that would only render him open to inevitable compromise.[xix]

Why expose a brother in the world of politics which do not render the respect worthy of the Precious name of Christ? Did Paul seek political correctness and mince words in Mars Hill?[xx] What Paul did, we would surely ban Bro. Eddie Villanueva to do in the future Edsa Celebrations. Would Eddie Villanueva declare to the whole Philippines that the giant statue of Mary in the Edsa Shrine, is an abomination to God? Surely, there would be crucial gospel-truth issues that Eddie Villanueva would be forced to be silent about when he becomes president of the Philippines. Should we allow a brother in the Lord to be mum about the truths of Jesus Christ, because he would be doing a President’s job? To those who argue that he would be doing a President’s job and not a pastoral job, we ask: Who should be glorified in the workings of a President who is a Christian? Should not the great name of the one and only God and Lord Jesus Christ, be declared in every work of a Christian? Again, we ask, what would a Christian President tell the Muslims?[xxi] Should we put a brother in a position were he would have to put the name of Christ in secondary importance to the demands of his job as President?

Just during his campaign period, Bro. Eddie Villanueva has forged alliances with people of different faiths. Should the biblical teaching of ‘not to be yoked with unbelievers’ limited only to marriage and courtship within the youth members of the evangelical church? Should we not call leaders such as Eddie Villanueva to be paragons of a life without compromise, in all aspects?[xxii]

Our challenge to Christian leaders who provoked Bro. Eddie Villanueva to seek political power: Please be truly concerned for the Christian testimony of Bro. Eddie Villanueva.

The economic, political, and societal situation of Palestine and Judea during the time of Jesus Christ, was much worse in the Philippines today, and yet Jesus, being a true Righteous Leader, did not aspire to change the situation by seeking political power.

Would Jesus run for office if He would be born in the Philippines today? Would Paul aspire the position of Felix or Herod or Caesar so he could bring changes to his community? No, these people only preached the gospel of Christ.

Peter, during the times when Christians are being burned by Nero, did not espouse Christians to stand up and aspire for political office so they can more or less lighten the much more problematic world they had during their time.[xxiii]

Our declaration to the whole Christian community: The gospel of Jesus Christ is more important than the whole Philippines. The work for the gospel of Jesus Christ is more urgent than the work that the Philippine political government demands. Not only it is more urgent, it is more important. We ask for Christians to mindful of the gospel of Jesus Christ, more than their concern for their safety, their family, their future, their peace, their riches – present or aspired, their health, because Christians are supposed to think foremost of heavenly concerns.[xxiv]

Lest I be interpreted as a running a personal campaign against Bro. Eddie Villanueva, I would like to reiterate that I am not.[xxv] In fact, his credentials deemed to be superlative by some sectors is worthy of evaluation. We understand why many brothers and sisters in the evangelical community are campaigning for him. We yearn the same yearnings that those who support Bro. Eddie Villanueva work for – Righteous Government that Glorifies God. And yet we believe, no man can ever do it without compromise, even with the virtues of ten thousand Eddie Villanuevas. No Christian can do it without compromise, and so we should let those who are not pastors or leaders of the Christian faith do it. Let a secular political office be filled with the deserving secular political candidate. Let the dead, bury the dead.[xxvi]

Only Christ can sit as a Righteous Leader with a Righteous Governance of a Righteous Government. Otherwise, earthly power corrupts. We only ask Christians to think and ponder the Scriptures and apply it to their lives so they can put the priority on where it should be.

There was a challenge in the Scriptures that we should think about.[xxvii]

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”

All the kingdoms of the world! The Presidency of the Philippines! What an opportunity to be led by a Righteous Leader! But we ask, at what price?

Like the Israel of old, the Philippines is waiting for a Savior that would free them from the bondage of poverty, of oppression, of violence, of corruption and it longs and anticipates for the coming of this Leader that would start the shower of blessings, the restoration of the old glory of Israel. And yet when the Savior came, a suffering servant, a man of no beauty and splendor, preaching a kingdom that asks them to carry daily crosses, of self-denial, of selling all possessions to be given to the poor, without any desire for any political office, nor even an advocate of societal changes and reforms, who instead condoned the taxation imposed by Caesar, who led a life of having nothing comfortable to lay his head upon because of more important things than possessions, they hated him. He was a preacher of God’s solution to the deeper human problem than poverty and societal ills. Would they listen to this carpenter’s son who is not even mindful of the greater problems that the Roman rule has brought in their nation and instead talks about their sins?

Blessings, prosperity, and respite from sufferings – desired by all humanity, yes from ancient Israel up to the present Gentile nations including the Philippines. And like the Israel of old, the Philippines would reject any advocate of a gospel that calls them not to desire financial blessings, or more healthy lives, or more food on the table, more than they should desire the sacrifice of living the sojourner-life of simplicity and rather just to focus on things above rather than earthly comforts, and to stand for the gospel that crucifies carnal longings. They would shout, “Blasphemy!” to the ones who say, “Let’s suffer all these things for the greater glory of God.” Because they want the “abundant” life Jesus promised which they interpret as more money, more resources, more wealth, more ease, more entertainment, more blessings rather than the fellowship of Jesus and God the Father in the face of sufferings and trials in proclaiming the offensive gospel of the Holy Spirit.

Like the Israel of old, the Philippines today, would crucify the Christ of the Scriptures.

“God is not a dictator. The perfect will of god cannot happen without the partnership and obedience of god’s own people. God does not wish a single soul to be perish in hell but all should come to repentance or else they will go to hell. He respects free will. Blessings through obedience, curses through disobedience. – Bro. Eddie Villanueva”

Isaiah 40:13-14. “Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counsellor hath taught him? With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?” Isaiah 14:27. “For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?”

Psalm 115:3. “But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.”

Should we correct that verse and say, “But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever WE ALLOW AND PARTICIPATE TO HAPPEN?”

sir ruben.. ur saying that ur an evangelical christian.. well, i think ur knowledge, interpretation and relationship with the Holy Spirit should go deeper so you would realize what ur saying.. first of all, the bible says you have to talk directly to the person ur concerned with if you have issues with him/her, then bring one or two witnesses after that or tell the elders about it.. if any person would do the same to you.. i mean talks about you in the web about such things u have posted.. would u be happy? would u feel blessed? now, i challenge you too.. seek the Lords will and not ur own knowledge and wisdom.. wether i am for brother eddie or not, i wouldn’t do such a thing… God bless you bro..

Thank Divine for your concern. I have long shunned from replying to comments on this post because most of them do not address the issues i presented. But yours is different. You are confronting me with a biblical concern, and that is Matthew 18:15-17.

Matthew 18:15-17 15 ¶ “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

Thank you. If I have committed a sin against Bro. Eddie Villanueva, then I should repent and go to him. If he had committed a personal sin against me, then I should go to him privately and tell him.
BUT, the things that Bro. Eddie Villanueva are not private sins on me. They are PUBLIC sins. And public sins are to be rebuked publicly. Remember, Paul when he confronted Peter?

Galatians 2:14 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

Why did not Paul go first to Peter privately? Because Peter committed a public sin. And he also repeated this to Timothy.

1 Timothy 5:20 20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.

In here, he was talking about elders in the church. Elders just like Bro. Eddie Villanueva.

Take note, Paul didn’t say, confront them privately first.

Thank you. Private sins must be privately confronted. Public sins must be publicly confronted.

Thank Divine for your concern. I have long shunned from replying to comments on this post because most of them do not address the issues i presented. But yours is different. You are confronting me with a biblical concern, and that is Matthew 18:15-17.

Matthew 18:15-17 15 ¶ “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

Thank you. If I have committed a sin against Bro. Eddie Villanueva, then I should repent and go to him. If he had committed a personal sin against me, then I should go to him privately and tell him.
BUT, the things that Bro. Eddie Villanueva are not private sins on me. They are PUBLIC sins. And public sins are to be rebuked publicly. Remember, Paul when he confronted Peter?

Galatians 2:14 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

Why did not Paul go first to Peter privately? Because Peter committed a public sin. And he also repeated this to Timothy.

1 Timothy 5:20 20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.

In here, he was talking about elders in the church. Elders just like Bro. Eddie Villanueva.

Take note, Paul didn’t say, confront them privately first.

Thank you. Private sins must be privately confronted. Public sins must be publicly confronted.

A challenge for you, dear reader
And that, my friends, is my challenge for you. Don’t treat your vote lightly. It’s not something that you just write down on a piece of paper and regret later on. Remember to pray for who you will vote for and don’t just rely on the campaign materials that you see on media and even from what your friends say. What’s important is that you pick a candidate who is righteous, otherwise we will all mourn for the next 6 years.
read more here…http://www.juancountry.com/gods-will-for-the-2010-elections/

I agree, remember to pray for who you will vote for. Remember to pray for Bro. Eddie Villanueva too, that he may focus once again in preaching the Gospel, which is more important than leading a nation to “righteousness” without preaching Christ as the ONLY Lord and Savior.

This is all hypocrisy. Ask yourself if you’ve never compromise a moment in your Christian life. Righteousness is only through Christ. Asking a brother not to go in politics because it is a compromising world is ridiculous. Where in this world can you see uncompromising spirit? You think this blogosphere of bloggers or pulpit of pastors/priests is not compromising? This world is cursed.

Hi jessie, It is really true that we have compromises, moreso me in my life. But would that be a license to allow an evangelical leader to do so? Everyone has compromises but would we encourage leaders to commit compromise, since everyone can’t be perfect and this world is cursed?

I am a follower of Christ and I and my family is campaigning for Bro. Eddie C. Villanueva and Atty. Jun Yasay and other Bangon Pilipinas Candidates.

You have an interesting view related to your concerns on the testimony of Bro. Eddie. I believe in the integrity and good character of Bro. Eddie and it is clear to me that GOD has called and prepared him to be the next President of our country so that we Filipinos can return to our Lord Jesus Christ. I have been with him in one of the campaigns in a market in Lemery, Batangas several days ago and we chanced upon a woman who is selling some stuff. She cried when she saw Bro. Eddie and she told him that she ‘backslid’ from the Lord. We encouraged her to return to GOD and rejoin her local church.

In one of Bro. Eddie’s motorcade, I met a cigarette vendor who asked for stickers of Bro. Eddie and other materials so he can give to other believers in that neighborhood. He too was a backslider and I encouraged him to return to our LORD.

I believe that Bro. Eddie’s life, integrity and good track record will be used by GOD to ‘preach’ and exemplify the Good News of salvation in our government. This is long overdue kapatid. Please pray that we will be united as the Body of Christ in reaching out to our government.

Ramil, nakakalungkot nga ang imoralidad at korapsyon. Nagkakaisa tayo diyan. But even if you moralize the society without the GOSPEL– blessing will not come. Bro. Eddie has compromised the gospel– as a PROOF: tignan mo listahan ng kanyang credentials. Hanggang ngayon ipinagmamalaki niyang Chairman siya ng God’s People Coalition for Righteousness. That is an ecumenical group consisting of Catholics, Muslims, Cultists and true Christians.

Ramil, I agree with you that immorality and corruption are not ideal– hindi ito ang PERFECT WILL ng Panginoon. But would you agree with me that compromising the gospel is a GREATER CRIME in God’s sight?

for me, the logic is like this, that’s why i still vote for Bro. eddie despite of controversies. I know Bro. Eddie is a man of God, as I honor God too, i must support him. atleast i did my part, even if he fails to do his task, he is the one who is responsible before God. why do i support people whom i don’t know his attitude toward God. the blame will fall on me if he corrupts… think twice….

I know Bro. Eddie is a man of God, as I honor God too, i must support him

I love the man. I voted for him in 2004.

I grew up watching Jesus the Healer. He is very effective in preaching the gospel. I can join you in calling him as a “Man of God”. Yet eversince he became preoccupied with these political stuff, he is being drawn away from the gospel message. It drives him to enter into unholy alliances. I want him to stay as a “man of God”– that’s why I want to keep him away from politics.

atleast i did my part, even if he fails to do his task, he is the one who is responsible before God

Perhaps he can fulfill his political task. I have no doubts on his abilities and knowledge. But the health of his soul and the cause of the gospel are more important to me.

why do i support people whom i don’t know his attitude toward God
I would love to vote for godly people too. If there are twelve godly senatoriables, I’ll vote for them all. If Bro.Eddie has only stood firm on the gospel, I would still vote for him. But as I said earlier, this involvement is currently harming him and the cause of the gospel.

When it comes to governance, even non-Christians can be agents of God to do us good– just read Romans 13

the blame will fall on me if he corrupts
Ni hindi sumagi sa isip ko sa magiging Corrupt siya. I believe he is sincere in his battle against corruption. Mataas pa rin naman pagtingin ko sa kanya. My only objections are in two areas:

1. where the gospel is being compromised
2. where the honor of God and his church has been tainted because of false prophetic pronouncements.

Who will you vote for then, brothers and sisters in Christ, if not Bro. Eddie? Do not be blinded with your theological mumbo-jumbo. You’ve seen it in Gloria, or didn’t you? She has the education and track record but turns out to be the most corrupt in Philippine history. As born-again Christians, we should know that only the he who has the Holy Spirit living in his heart could not be corrupted by power. Bro. Eddie like all of us are still in this earth as a creation. He’s not perfect unlike some Christians. But if you want to give the Philippines a chance to rise again, we don’t have any other choice. If only all Filipino Christians will be united in voting for Bro. Eddie, he’ll be the next president of the Philippines, the sick man of Asia.

I have one request specially to Filipino theologians and scholars (pharisees of modern times?). For once in your life, be united and do the right thing, vote for Bro. Eddie! If you’re looking for perfection, you should know that it won’t happen here on earth. For now, forget about yourselves and think about the poor and needy. For Christ’s sake, take this medicine called Bro. Eddie and see if he could heal the sick man of Asia.

The King
14 When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,” 15 be sure to appoint over you the king the LORD your God chooses. He must be from among your own brothers. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not a brother Israelite. 16 The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the LORD has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.” 17 He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.

18 When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the priests, who are Levites. 19 It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the LORD his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees 20 and not consider himself better than his brothers and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.
-Deuteronomy 17:14-20

I wonder who you will vote instead. Someone who is not your brother (or sister) in Christ? Does this mean that you would rather entrust this nation to someone who wasn’t made righteous by the Lamb of God, rather than endorse a brother who has been justified by the blood of the Lamb? If indeed Bro Eddie have sinned, shouldn’t you just rebuke him with love and spur him toward love and good deed rather than abondon him and give your support to someone you are not related to at all?

The King
14 When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,” 15 be sure to appoint over you the king the LORD your God chooses. He must be from among your own brothers. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not a brother Israelite. 16 The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the LORD has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.” 17 He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.

18 When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the priests, who are Levites. 19 It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the LORD his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees 20 and not consider himself better than his brothers and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.
-Deuteronomy 17:14-20

to all anti-eddie-for-president,
i really admire your passion in writing comments against bro.eddie and his so-called lies and false prophesies, comparing him with different stories and characters in the Bible. What year was that again when bro.eddie “lied and prophesied falsely”?hehe! Up to now you still have hung-overs of his past? i think i can forgive my brother if he lies to me. i think i can get over it for a day or a week. but a year? no way!what if i day today and until now i have not release forgiveness for my brother. i think God forgave him “IF” it was really false. “IF” the election during JDV time was not manipulated.

one more thing, no matter how disgusting bro.eddie’s character is, because he is my brother in Christ i would still support him. if non-Christians support their brother no matter how, why can’t we?

and one last thing, you may abandon bro.eddie because as you said he committed sin(s), but i believe God has not abandoned him. And if God is for Eddie and we are for God, then i am for Eddie!

einstein said: i think i can forgive my brother if he lies to me. i think i can get over it for a day or a week. but a year? no way!what if i day today and until now i have not release forgiveness for my brother. i think God forgave him “IF” it was really false.

You are asking us to forgive him. But the biblical instruction is to pressure an offending brother unto repentance and if he refuses to do so, he is no longer to be treated as a brother but a pagan or tax collector (Matthew 18)

wow!kanino si bro.eddie magpapakita ng repentance?sa’yo at sa mga judgmental and offense-sensitive christians like you?ang bigat mo bro.!ni hindi mo pa nga alam if God was really angry at bro.eddie. do you know who bro.eddie is inside his house?did God curse his family or him personally for that?did God punished him for that alleged mistake?nakita mo ba siyang nagdusa at tinakwil ng Diyos as consequence for those “sins”?

who has the right to judge the mind of the Lord so that he may instruct HIM what is sin and what is not?who committed sin and who did not?

offending brother?says who?kayo lang naman ang nagsasabi that bro.eddie is an offending brother ah.which is i guess a little less than 1% of the born again christian population in the philippines.

my point is, if you’re against eddie’s campaign and you keep saying that you still has high regard for the man, how can you be so bold and open in exposing his “mistakes daw”?and some of you are saying pa that you love him that’s why you are not voting for him and yet parang you are so determined na ilaglag siya?yan na ba ang meaning ng love ngayon?

pangalawa, do we have to wait for a visible manifestation of God’s judgment in an adulterer’s life? What Mr. Villanueva did at the Quiboloy gathering is spiritual adultery– maliban na lamang sa mga katulad mong kunsintidor.

pangatlo, following the Lord’s command to call for repentance sa isang Kristiyanong HALATANG namumuhay sa kasalan ay hindi judging the mind of the Lord. He has already revealed it clearly in his word.

I still love the man but I would be willing to treat him as a pagan if he doesn’t repent. Alam mo kung bakit? Yun kasi ang nakasulat sa Matthew 18:17? Nasa bibliya pa ba ninyo yan o pinunit na ninyo?

When Jesus said that we should not judge, he doesn’t mean that we should tolerate sin. One of his apostles goes as far as handing over to Satan those who are blasphemers (1 Timothy 1:20). A blasphemer is NOT excused simply because he is no longer a pastor at pulitiko na siya– Yan ay kung nasa bibliya mo ang 1 Tim.1:20 o baka naman pinunit mo na.

bro.manny as much as possible i dont want the argument to be between ur childish reasoning and mine.

simple lang ang point ko in commenting on this blog since the very start.that is, PROVE YOUR LOVE to the man.

1. can you say to a person, “MAHAl KITA KAYA PAPATAYIN KITA!” because that is what you are doing. You’re saying you love him but at the end of your argument you’re burying him with those malicious and hypothetical accusations.

2.you were saying that you are still “UNDECIDED” yet any grade 1, section 11 pupil could easily understand that you already have chosen which side of the coin you picked.

3.Nakakahiya na ginagamit nyo (u and ruben) ang verses and stories sa BIBLE to acquit you of being so judgmental and in attacking an INNOCENT MAN. Mind you, lahat ng ginagagamit nyo ni ruben na verses sa BIBLE ay kaya kung i-counter attack using the very same verse that u are using in attacking bro.eddie. but i wont go down to that level. it’s such a shame using the HOLY WORD of God for personal justification of the issue, and condemning a good person.

4.eto pa. sinasabi din ng mga katulad mong judgmental that you are just protecting brother eddie from the hazard of politics and keep him on track in preaching the Gospel. if eddie decides not to run anymore at pagbigyan kayo sa mga sinasabi nyo, may maniniwala pa kaya sa pangangaral niya kung sirang-sira na siya dahil sa pinagsusulat at pina-publish niyo?is that PROTECTION o TOTAL DESTRUCTION?

5.if the man has decided to run in politics, that’s his personal choice and the Constitution of the Philippines respects that choice.why cant you?hindi na ba lalaganap ang Gospel kung magiging presidente siya?siya lang ba ang pastor sa pilipinas?siya lang ba ang may responsibilidad na magpalaganap ng Gospel?how about us?how about you?ba’t nyo pinagpipilitan iluklok si bro.eddie sa isang responsibility that he has already accomplished (and i believe he will still do) in his life?5million souls led to Christ!isn’t that enough to give the man a chance for a change of venue in his christian life?how many have you led to Christ?10?20?100?

6.The writings in the Bible are mostly debatable.depende sa pagka unawa ng nagbabasa. so i’ll give you your “benefit of the doubt”.are you giving one to bro.ed?is your interpretation of the Bible the absolute and ultimate interpretation?what if eddie is right?what if “will nga ni Lord” na tumakbo siya?so you will end up as God’s enemy then. Bigyan mo ng consideration at allowance ang pag-uunawa mo. Dont make it absolute!

7.Kung talagang “undecided” ka, listen to both sides and please, please, please be consistent with your stand. Sa lahat ng mga nagcomment dito against brother eddie, i consider you and ruben as the more sensible person so act like one.

But I’m standing on scriptural convictions so its hard not to be passionate. I can see that you are also doing your best to make our dialogue peaceful. Maraming salamat kapatid.

Kapatid, marami na akong nasabi. Perhaps this will be my last post. I will no longer return to this thread unless for compelling reasons. Kung ano man yung nasabi kong masasakit, ipagpaumanhin mo. Please forgive me for any reckless word I have spoken against you. Yet I am standing by my convictions.

These will be my final points.

1. Our charges against Bro. Eddie are not malicious nor hypothetical. He is not innocent. If the Quiboloy video will not convince you, nothing else will.

2. Your analogy is very good– MURDER.. Truly we will not want a person to die if we love him. You know your bible; you know that when sin is full-grown it leads to death (James 1:15). If you love Bro. Eddie, call him to forsake sin.

3. If I will not use Bible verses, then what else would I use? I know I”m not infallible but I have a certain level of assurance that I’m interpreting it correctly. I assure you that one of my passions is hermeneutics.

4. Pagdating sa preaching the gospel, I don’t think Bro. Eddie is qualified to preach at this point. I think a person who has said all the words he said before the Quiboloy crowd without repentance is disqualified from preaching. Check out the pastoral qualifications in the epistles to Timothy and Titus.

5. His sin is public, so why should the rebuke be kept from the public eye? 1 Titus 5:19-20– “Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning. (NIV)

6. I am not totally against his political career. I voted for him in 2004. If he had only been faithful to the gospel message, perhaps I would still vote for him.

sure thing my brother! i have nothing against you and you’re stand against eddie. like i said, my only point is “why so open and bold in presenting evidences against bro.eddie, ganyan ba ang magkapatid talaga?”

i just dont understand the rationale of accepting someone as a brother and at the same time destroying his character in front of the world.

as passionate as you are with your arguments against eddie, ganon din naman ako para sa kanya, and i may have put harsh words on those comments too.for that, i acknowledge my mistake and apology accepted.

Greetings! I am a missionary here in the Philippines and I have really been saddened over the past years about the decline of Bro. Eddie as he has entered more and more into the political realm. Things just keep getting worse; especially when he spoke at the Quiboloy meeting. I really appreciate your article. Thank you for taking a stand for righteousness and truth. I have passed the link to your article along to others via Facebook. Continue to stand for what is right! And thanks also to you – Manny Ambanloc Rosario for your excellent and well reasoned and scriptural posts.

may i leave a comment to react? reading on those arguments below and the article above? i am also a born again christian, and though my church is straight bro.,eddie..my mindset as one of its member doesnt agree on that matter..though you may say Bro eddie is not corrupt, he is a righteous leader, and Christ speaks for him to revive our country..I guess that is more of subjectivity than objectivity.. biblically speaking: Romans 3:10 -As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one;”.. Romans 3:23- “For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God “..so is bro eddie part of “all”??
I really dnt want to make arguments on piety.

real followers of CHRIST are NO PART of the WORLD.. wisdom WISE, politics alone is a big part of that WORLD.. though you may say, “wala nalang ba tayong pake alam sa ating bansa?” MERON..actually, if you really care for our nation then stop CONTEMPORARY politics..lets go for a real change,.,VOte someone with competence,,whoi doesnt go for sympathy,charisma, religion..

Bro Eddie and other Pastors as well are more of a politician than a Preacher.,.,

False prophecy is also past accomplishment. God warns us no to use His Name in vain. The Jesus Declaration of Victory episode is a direct usage of the name of God in vain. As a confirmation J. De Venecia did not win that election.

I kind of agree to this writer. Although I maybe a little extreme in that I do not vote at all.

Jesus Christ Himself, His gospel, His kingdom, His righteousness and His commission to us should supersede all things, and yes, including our earthly affiliations (like our citizenship). Jesus Himself said that “My kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36). Through the gospel, Christ will establish his own kingdom which is heavenly, righteous and and spiritual as opposed to earthly, corrupted and material/physical. This should be our viewpoint as Christians.

We should render to Caesar what is due to Caesar; to God what is due to God. Nero Caesar decreed persecution to many Christians of the Roman Empire, even Apostle Paul was beheaded at his time. Yet, there is no record that early Christians made an armed resistance to the Roman State or sounded a call to overthrow the Caesar through rebellion. Peter had an opportunity to escape death but went back to Rome to face his fate of the cross, nailed upside down as he chose.

Our Savior said that those who will inherit the earth are the meek, not those who will aggressively fight for their earthly rights. And by this, He meant the coming earth in His Kingdom in our resurrection and not in the realm of our present earthly life. Paul and the rest of the apostles never inherit anything on this earth. Paul even “counted all things loss.”

We know that slavery was commonplace during the ancient times, yet we didn’t see any recommendation of the Bible to abolish this institution. In the book of Philemon, Paul met Philemon’s runaway slave Onesimus and brought him to salvation. Paul returned Onesimus to Philemon without changing his earthly status to free man despite a change in his spiritual status. Onesimus is still Philemon’s slave albeit being now a brother in Christ. Paul even said in Ephesians 6:5 that slaves should obey their earthly masters. We are aware that slavery is certainly a social ill that plagued the previous centuries that led to its abolition in our present age. This is a worse social ill than what our country faces today yet Paul never endorsed an abolition of this institution. Paul’s focus seems to be spiritual so as not to mind these kind of earthly businesses (although he is highly practical of earthly things).

First Corinthians 7:31 says “those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.” Well, I guess this could include our earthly citizenship, status and privileges. Our calling and citizenship is of heaven, not of earth. Our work involves the things that which is to come and not the present temporary things. Our viewpoint is spiritual and not material.